Classics in Video Games

[canis]

I think like any other art form, I think there exist games that have had either a large influence on the development of a culture, or the industry, or both. I think there are games that contain so much artistic relevance as to be enjoyable no matter what the current state of gaming is.

I won't elaborate too much on that point because you can agree or disagree, but the question I have is predicated upon you agreeing with that statement. So please don't 'debate' if games are an important or powerful art form.

That said, I figured, do you ever think there will be a section at local game stores, or online distribution services, that sell 'classic' games, the same way there is a classic section at bookstores and some movie venues?

I say this because, there are many games that really defined a genre for a consoles generation, and sometimes the many genres to come. That, or the game was of a scope and quality that it asked worthy questions and gave equally worthy answers.

The reason I think about this is, many people I know who consider themselves gamers have never actually played any of the games that, for better or not, pretty much created the mechanics that have become ubiquitous in todays games.

It is similar to someone saying "I am a sci-fi nerd" and then saying they don't know who Asimov, Dick, or Heinlein are.

 

[tippy2k2]

I sincerely doubt it (well, classic game shops will for obvious reasons but not a Best Buy, Gamestop, Target, etc.).

Citizen Kane will work in my Blu-Ray/DVD player; Super Mario Brothers will not work on my 360 (I even blew on it and everything!)

 

[canis]

I sincerely doubt it.

Citizen Kane will work in my Blu-Ray/DVD player; Super Mario Brothers will not work on my 360 (I even blew on it and everything!)

I think this might be why we will see it in online stores though. You can play NES, SNES, playstation 1 and 2, N64, gamecube, xbox, all very easily with a 360 controller.

And this is with emulators, which are made individually. I am sure it would be even easier if running these games through a 'professionally made' client.

 

[tippy2k2]

I think this might be why we will see it in online stores though. You can play NES, SNES, playstation 1 and 2, N64, gamecube, xbox, all very easily with a 360 controller.

And this is with emulators, which are made individually. I am sure it would be even easier if running these games through a 'professionally made' client.

Sorry, I read your post too quickly and just went to the "brick and mortar" stores rather than the online one as well.

I still say no

Someone asked a while ago about doing a big "Classic Console" [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.383290-Why-dont-video-game-companies-release-anthology-editions-for-past-consoles#15156553] and my comment there is my reason for why it won't work:

Money.

While there are a number of classics that were made by now-dead companies, someone still owns the IP to those games. The ones who do still exist (namely, Nintendo) would never consider releasing their games on other competing systems.

Along with that, these games won't just work on new systems. They still have to have a development team to build these emulators, test them, get them on the market, etc. etc.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

There are two stores that I'm aware of in my general area that sells 'classic' games and consoles for cheap. They also sell current stuff too, and I think they do that just to stay in the green. The games are used but are completely cleaned up and fixed into perfect working condition so I think that's how they can really work, and I mean 'work' as in being sold.

It's possible for them to be sold in stores, but they're more of a novelty and I seriously doubt they're gonna be sold in the major retailers like Best buy and whatever.

EDIT: Books are different because they will always have some publisher putting them out and someone will always be getting some check in the mail because of it. Also, they're much cheaper to reproduce unlike games where the classic games are held onto by the company and they have a say whether or not they should re-release them or not.

 

[canis]

Does copyright ever run out on videogames? Like I know a lot of people can publish old novels without any worry about rights. I guess that would be the biggest hurdle.

Also, why would a classic console be so difficult to make? I onetime managed to get an old windows XP system I had to straight boot into an SNES emulator. I don't think it would be difficult to make a boot loader that did something similar with several other emulation game systems.The only problem would be for someone to make money off this it would need to overcome the copyright idea.

Technically I don't see how it can be difficult.

 

[TrevHead]

Does copyright ever run out on videogames? Like I know a lot of people can publish old novels without any worry about rights. I guess that would be the biggest hurdle.

Also, why would a classic console be so difficult to make? I onetime managed to get an old windows XP system I had to straight boot into an SNES emulator. I don't think it would be difficult to make a boot loader that did something similar with several other emulation game systems.The only problem would be for someone to make money off this it would need to overcome the copyright idea.

Technically I don't see how it can be difficult.

I know some games can have problems if they use a 3rd parties property in game, for example music, real cars in racers or sports games, some of those would have to be relicensed from the owners like what Sega is having to do with Jet Set Radio.

 

[The Madman]

That said, I figured, do you ever think there will be a section at local game stores, or online distribution services, that sell 'classic' games, the same way there is a classic section at bookstores and some movie venues?

That was basically the entire founding idea behind 'Good Old Game.com' which has since become simply GOG.com now that they've started selling some newer titles as well. Great website with some of the best PC games ever made fixed up to run on modern day computers, can't recommend it enough.

As for console games that's a bit trickier, but even then isn't that the entire point of services like the Wii store which sells old Nintendo games throughout the years at the discounted downloadable price? I know I've bought a couple favourites that was to play em fresh anew.